Accessibility InformationAct 1227 of 1999 required the Arkansas Department of Information Systems to develop Non-visual Standards for Arkansas that ensures the needs of Arkansans who are blind or visually impaired are met through reasonable accommodation in the information technology products and services of the state. Information technology products and services include data, voice, and video technologies, as well as information dissemination methods such as the Internet. In essence, this means that Arkansas Government or state funded entities must have websites that are equally accessible to blind or visually impaired visitors. For instance, websites must provided text equivalents for all non-text elements such as images, animation, audio and video. We will make every effort to comply with these new guidelines on the Access Arkansas website. If you have trouble accessing or navigating this site, please submit your concern using the ‘Contact Us’ feature. For more information about IT policies and standards in Arkansas, link to the State of Arkansas Accessibility Best Practices. For detailed information about web site development and accessibility issues, link to W3C Web Content Guidelines or the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST).

Privacy Policy InformationEffective July 1, 2004, all state agencies and local government entities are required by Act 1713 of 2003 to provide standardized machine readable privacy policies on their websites in addition to human readable versions. This new requirement is commonly referred to as P3P which stands for the 'Platform for Privacy Preferences Project'. These privacy policies are automatically interpreted by internet browsers to compare with a visitor's personal set of security preferences. This allows a visitor to decide what private information will be recorded or saved by a particular website.The following information outlines the three policies that have been adopted by the State of Arkansas. These policies have been reviewed by state legal counsel and tested for compliance set forth within P3P standards from the W3C. Agencies may use these policies or provide their own policy for conversion to a machine-readable format. However, all policies must pass P3P validation to be compliant. Which policy is used is solely dependent on the content or functionality of each web page.

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Web Statistics Only Policy

Only click-stream data, HTTP protocol elements and search terms will be recorded. This data will be used for completion and support of the current activity, website and system administration, and research and development. Cookies are not used.

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Data Collection Policy

In addition to the same information that is collected by the Web Statistics Only Policy, this policy also collects, at the user's option, transaction information such as contact information and demographic data. This data will be used for completion and support of the current activity, website and system administration, and other operational purposes as more fully set out in the Arkansas Department of Human Services Notice of Privacy Practices (Arkansas DHS Privacy Statement). Cookies are used to track visitors and maintain information about the contents of a shopping cart. Cookies are optional.

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Payment Collection Policy

In addition to the same information that is collected by the Web Statistics Only Policy, this policy also collects, at the user's option, transaction information such as contact information and demographic data. This data will be used for completion and support of the current activity, website and system administration, research and development, and contacting visitors for marketing of services or products. This policy also covers the recording of data required to process credit card, EFT or electronic checks through financial institutions. This data includes contact information, demographic data and purchase information in order to deliver the product or service. Depending on the service, this data may or may not be required. Additionally, users must opt-in (agree or decline) to allow use the data for marketing purposes. Cookies are used to complete the user's current activity and visitor targeting. Cookies are optional.

Statistical InformationUpon opening Access Arkansas’s web site, certain information is automatically collected about your visit. It is used for statistical purposes and does not identify you personally. The number of people visiting our site changes over time, as does the Internet access software used by our visitors. We use such data to improve our site and make it fit the needs of our user population. We collect the following information when you visit our site:

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The Internet Protocol (IP) address of your PC and Domain Name, but not your Email address. The IP address is an identifier assigned to your computer when you access the Internet. The Domain Name is the Internet name of the host service through which you access the Internet (eg. MyInternetProvider.com).

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The type of browser software and operating system used to access our site.

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The date and time you access our site.

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The pages in our site that you visit.

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If you linked to our site from another site, the address of the originating web site.

CookiesCookies are simple text files stored on your computer by a web site. Not all web sites or web pages you visit generate cookies. Cookie text files are not executable and cannot carry viruses or worms. Cookies can contain any string of text but typically they are used to remember your browser preferences, to record your browsing behavior, to identify you to a web site, and to improve the convenience of interacting with web sites. Although you can prevent web sites from placing cookies on your computer, disabling cookies can adversely affect your ability to view or interact with some web sites. Access Arkansas’s web site may use cookies to allow visitors to interact with online applications. Access Arkansas does not use cookies to store a user’s personal information.

LoggingAccess Arkansas employs a hosting service for its Access Arkansas web site. The hosting service, as an agent of Access Arkansas, writes to server log files to record user transactions and utilizes analysis software to collect site usage information. Server log files are transient and used only for database maintenance. Site analysis software is utilized as described in Statistical Information, above

Personal Information“Personal Information” is any information that identifies, represents, and directly associates to a specific person. Personal information may include such things as a person’s name, address, phone number, Email address, social security number, etc.We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity, on our web site, that asks for that information. Some Access Arkansas’s web pages may include such activities which offer users the opportunity to: (1) communicate with us by Email; (2) to submit requests for information about DHS services; (3) to report information about service requests or service applications already initiated with a DHS office; (4) to respond to surveys; (5) to complete an online transactionIf you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will not affect your ability to use any other features of Access Arkansas’s web site. If you do choose to participate and you voluntarily provide personal information, that information may be protected by state and federal laws; if not protected, once submitted to us it becomes public record.

Information Collected through EmailIf you choose to participate in an activity, as described above, that offers the opportunity to communicate with us by Email, we will collect the following information:

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The Email address you use in sending us the Email

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The contents of your Email message

We use this information to respond to you, to address the issues you identify, or to forward your message to another agency for appropriate response. Your Email address and the contents of your Email message are not collected for commercial marketing purposes. If your Email address and the contents of your Email message are not protected by state or federal law, the information is releasable as public record.

Type of data shared, purposes for sharing, option to opt outWe only share statistical or personal information with other government agencies if your inquiry relates to that agency and sharing is required by law or regulation. For example, if you participate in an activity on Access Arkansas’s web site and voluntarily provide personal information relating to a DHS service you have applied for or are receiving, that information will be collected and made available to government agencies as required by law or regulation.We do not create individual profiles with the information you provide or give it to private organizations. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles on children. We do not collect information for commercial marketing.Visitors to the Access Arkansas web site may not opt out from the collection of statistical data, as defined above. Additionally, the collection and sharing of personal information, as defined above, is governed by law or regulation and visitors participating in Access Arkansas web site activities requiring the voluntary provision of personal information may not opt out.

Security StatementSecurity is the most important portion of customer service for any business or government entity conducting commerce on the Internet today. We take this issue very seriously. Access Arkansas utilizes Secured Socket Layer (SSL) protocol for Internet transaction security. This SSL protocol allows Access Arkansas to deliver server authentication, data encryption and message integrity. Every step of the process, from the initial submission of data to the final settlement through the use of credit cards, has been built with the most advanced yet user-friendly security features available.

Acceptable Use and Linking PolicyAccess Arkansas is maintained by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) and its authorized agents.In the course of providing informational resources, Access Arkansas may include links to external websites created and maintained by organizations other than the State of Arkansas. Links may be added by the Arkansas Department of Human Services if it determines that the link will be consistent with the purpose of the Access Arkansas web portal, which is to provide a public service to citizens and businesses by: expanding citizen access to the Arkansas DHS services and information; offering an easy and convenient process to conduct transactions with DHS online;improving the level of customer service from DHS; extending electronic government services to citizens of cities and county government; providing a comprehensive informational resource about services and functions related to DHS.Arkansas Department of Human Services will provide links to federal, state, and local government websites and educational institutions that provide information or services related to topics covered on the Access Arkansas web portal or that users of the Access.Arkansas.gov site may find of interest. DHS may, at its discretion, provide links to websites of non-profit organizations and private or commercial entities if they offer information or services related to topics covered on the Access.Arkansas.gov website, and are consistent with the purpose of the Access.Arkansas.gov website. All requests for links to non-governmental sites will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.DHS will determine whether the external website fits with the purpose of the Access.Arkansas.gov web portal and where the link should be placed within the Access.Arkansas.gov web portal's content structure. Links may be removed or replaced at the discretion of DHS, at any time and without notice.Links to sites containing the following types of content are not considered appropriate to the Access.Arkansas.gov web portal: - Sites that exhibit hate, bias, discrimination, pornography, libelous or otherwise defamatory content; - Affiliation or advocacy of a political party, organization, or candidate running for office; - Content not suitable for readers or viewers of all ages; - Content that infringes on any trademark, copyright, or patent rights of another; - Content that a reasonable citizen may not consider to maintain the dignity and decorum appropriate for government.

Freedom of Information (FOI) ActStatistical information and personal information is subject to disclosure, with certain restrictions pertaining to access and confidentiality, under provisions of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Request a LinkLink requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request a link on the Access.Arkansas.gov portal, please submit your request using the ‘Contact Us’ feature. To request a link on a state agency website, please contact the relevant agency directly.

Linking to Access.Arkansas.GovLinking to the Access.Arkansas.gov web portal is permitted with the following limitations: - You may not capture Access.Arkansas.gov pages within frames or present Access.Arkansas.gov content as your own. - You may not state or imply that the State of Arkansas, Arkansas DHS, or Access.Arkansas.gov is endorsing your product, site, or services. - Arkansas DHS and the State of Arkansas cannot guarantee reciprocal links on any Access.Arkansas.gov website (see Linking Policy above).

DisclaimerVisitors to external websites are advised to check the privacy statements of those sites and be cautious about providing personally identifiable information without a clear understanding of how the information will be used. Neither the State of Arkansas nor Arkansas Department of Human Services is responsible for the content of those websites. Links to non-governmental sites are provided as informational resources only. A link from Access.Arkansas.gov does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of any specific commercial product, viewpoint, or service referenced on those external websites.The State of Arkansas and Arkansas Department of Human Services make every effort to ensure that published information is accurate and current. Neither the State of Arkansas, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Arkansas warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published on the Access.Arkansas.gov website, nor endorses any products or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of the information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.Any additional questions, concerns or statements regarding confidentiality and data usage may be directed to Access Arkansas using the ‘Contact Us’ feature or to the Arkansas Department of Human Services at https://dhs.arkansas.gov/reporting/ .